I believe God spoke to me recently

Sorry I can't just jump there on my own. Wish I could! It takes a deeply intuitive person to make such jumps.

What chronological order? I missed something. Told you I'm dense.

Here you go:

You can print it out . . . click on the link

Microsoft Word - Plan4.docx (blueletterbible.org)

A good guide for reading.

All other reading plans will only keep a person in total confusion about the Story of God. We [must] know and understand the Story of God, for, it is the Gospel itself.

( Hebrews 13:2) to me is very real!!)

So I was traveling. Week long business trip. 450 miles from home. Was feeling a bit homesick, lonely, down on myself, questioning my commitment to the faith because I was in the midst of being tempted with a desire of the flesh. Though I didn’t give into the temptation I was still feeling the warfare . I decided to go for a walk and clear my head . Out of nowhere a bearded man stops me in my hotel hallway. This stranger introduces himself as a traveling missionary. Told him my name and what church I was attending on Sundays. He had a concerned look on his face but didn’t say anything further on that in particular but He identified himself as a disciple of Christ on a missionary trip . I’m Not good with names and couldn’t tell ya what his name was or what his denomination or affiliation was but I was so caught by surprise by his willingness to engage in conversation I was initially guarded because I’ve never had anyone outside my church walls strike up conversation about the faith with such boldness in public . Such conversations have always been confined to the church building and what ever has been shared in conversations had been very shallow and impersonal seems like for me till now. As we continued to converse about the faith he stops me and speaks something profound to me about my faith. He asks me “why are you speaking like you aren’t entirely convinced yet.” He proceeds to give me some thought provoking words that I reflected on needing to be absolutely convinced that I’m saved and celebrating that and living confidently in Gods greatness. Mind you I didn’t share any words about my present struggles in the faith. But he spoke to me as though I had just poured out my life to he guy. He prayed over me about my life and faith shook hands and went our own ways.

Bumped into him again later while I was in the little hotel gym. He proceeded to ask me a simple question “are you ready to be a disciple of Christ” I smiled and said absolutely. I Explained some of my shyness and guarding from our prior conversation. He proceeded to explain how it was probably due to a wound I received in my past long ago.
Boom… a couple painful memories flooded my mind. I Gave no hint to him as to what was happening but it was very revealing to me. We shook hands blessed each other and I thanked him and went our own ways.

As I laid in bed that night thinking about it. I remember hearing of how God can work and speak through other people in our lives . And it hit me like a Mack truck. I just experienced God working and speaking to me. Blown away in amazement . Never had this happen before.

So If you are out there mr. Disciple whoever you are and you happen to be reading this. God is doing great things through you. Keep doing what your doing. You have given me some things I need to reflect on in my walk with God . Bless you sir.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:2

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:2

Just as the Scripture states. Spiritual Circumcision is the removal of the Sinful Nature, also known as the Mind of Satan compared to the Mind of Christ. The Sinful State of a "man" is Sarx in Greek. If you look at your footnotes, you will find the word "flesh" is in reference to Sarx, the sinful state of a person. Therefore, we must come to understand the difference in usage each time the word "flesh" is used. Sometimes it is used to described human flesh, but others, the Sinful Nature.

Galatians 3:13 from the NLT is the best translation for this passage. It states:

Galatians 3:13 NLT - "But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

Other translations state that the Law of Moses is the Curse, but that's wrong, for the Law is Good, Righteous and Holy.

Romans 7:12 NLT - "But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good."

So, the Purpose of Christ is to come to earth and redeem us of this Curse. That is the basis of John 3:16. The Work of Christ is to actually perform this Holy Operation of Faith. Now, here is the THIRD (interesting number, right?) element of Christ, and it is the Effect of Christ. And the effect of Christ is the Romans 12:2 Holy Transformation. Or, we could say that the Effect of Christ is for a person to be able to Love as described in 1 Cor chapter 13, the "Love Chapter." No one can Love in THAT way unless they have been Transformed by the Work of Christ, His Spiritual Circumcision.

So, when, in Romans 7, Paul stated that he was doing the things he didn't want to do . . . he was referencing his pre-transformed life. Look at what he said . . .

Romans 7:18-19 NLT - "And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway."

Compare this, quickly, with Colossians 2:11 and 13 where he also said . . .

Colossians 2:11, 13 NLT - "When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature." ... 13 "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins."

In Romans 7, Paul is talking about his former life BEFORE the Sin Nature was removed. How could he write about possessing a Sinful Nature and then later talk about how the Work of Christ, which makes a person whole and complete, is cut out and permanently removed?

So, after a person has begun their Transformed, Romans 12:2 life, they will begin to say, "You know, the horrible things that I used to do, I no longer want to do them. Why? Because within the New Divine Nature of Christ, I hate sin. I have been Enabled to not only hate my sin, but I am learning to stop it altogether. So, the things I once did, I no longer do them."

2 Peter 1:4 NLT - "And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires."

These are the Promises that are spoken of to Abraham and Sarah in Genesis chapters 17!

The removal of the Sinful Nature is done so, so as to be replaced by the Divine Nature. Now get this . . . what is the job of the Human Nature? It SERVES! So whatever Nature we possess, we will serve "it." And this is why the Mind of Satan must be replaced by the Mind of Christ.

You are about to be totally Transformed, FrancisClare!